Content
Maiden grapes feel good in winter, and if they are already mature, they practically do not need care. This plant is beautiful, with long shoots and a rich crown. Thanks to its tenacious tendrils, which securely grasp the support, it is capable of entwining and decorating various buildings on the site. This cultural feature is often used in landscapes and various design projects.
Maiden grapes effectively decorate the facades of any buildings
What does girlish grapes look like in winter?
The plant can be found in summer cottages or near private houses. It abundantly covers fences or walls of buildings with its beautiful climbing shoots, giving them a fabulous look. This is an unpretentious crop that is highly resistant to the conditions of the central regions, and certain species can survive winter even in Siberia. It grows rapidly, sometimes reaching thirty meters in length.
Maiden grapes are distinguished by the beautiful color of the leaf blades that abundantly cover the vines. They can be emerald green or red. The berries of the crop are eaten, they serve as food for birds, and also serve as additional decoration.
Maiden grapes came from the countries of East Asia and the states of North America
Frost resistance of grapes
With good snow cover in winter, wild grapes are not afraid of frost, and with proper care, they perfectly retain all their properties. Although, before deciding not to cover the plant, it is important to familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the variety and take into account the climate of the region where it is grown.
Among the most winter-resistant varieties are:
- Tripointed. It is characterized by leaves of different shapes, consisting of three lobes. Withstands temperatures down to -15 °C.
In the middle zone and northern regions, it is better to cover tripoint grapes for the winter
- Five-leafed. It is distinguished by leaf blades of complex shape (five lobes), the color of which changes depending on the time of year. From May to September the leaves are green, turning red with the arrival of autumn.
Five-leaf maiden grapes are not afraid of frost in winter and are perfect for the middle zone and northern latitudes
- Attached. The variety is bred for tall buildings. The minimum length of its main shoot is three meters, and the leaf blades can have either three or five blades.
The attached variety tolerates winter well and is suitable for different climatic conditions
Maiden grapes are suitable for planting anywhere. But in order to achieve maximum results from it, you need to take into account a number of points:
- place the culture in well-lit places;
- at a young age, provide the plant with frequent watering;
- select areas with airy and loose soil;
- install a strong support near the bushes.
In order for virgin grapes to have maximum resistance to unfavorable environmental conditions in winter, they need to be pruned in a timely manner and fertilized with mineral complexes.
Preparing for winter
Maiden grapes do not need special preparation for the cold period, but conscientious gardeners still do a minimum of simple work to care for them. Usually it is cleared of diseased branches and dry leaves, and also trimmed. Since this variety tends to raise its roots above the soil, they are lightly sprinkled with soil. If the shoots are weakened or young, they are covered for the winter.
If you follow the rules of caring for the crop before winter in summer, it will become more luxuriant and grow stronger.
Is it necessary to prune virgin grapes for the winter?
Pruning virgin grapes in the fall is carried out in order to prevent overgrown branches from destroying the support; this procedure also helps to rejuvenate the plant and improve its appearance.
It is recommended to remove diseased, broken and dry vines. You also need to shorten those branches that have grown too much. Work should be carried out with sharp pruning shears or garden shears. The instrument is first disinfected.
To cover or not
Maiden grapes are a very unpretentious plant that is easy to care for. If you forget about it with the onset of winter, then, provided there are no critical temperatures, it will survive it on its own and will not suffer.
Around the second half of October (a little earlier in the northern regions), it is recommended to remove the stems of a 1-2 year old crop from the trellis and spread it on the surface of the soil. Next, cover them so that the young greens cannot freeze.
The following materials can be used:
- Sawdust, spruce branches, fallen leaves. The virgin grapes should be placed on a wooden base, and a dry layer 20 cm thick should be poured on top.
- Earth. Dig a hole, put the vine in it, and cover it with a 20 cm layer of soil.
- Artificial materials. After laying the vine, cover it with roofing felt or slate. Film cannot be used.
- Snow. Place the shoots on a grate and cover them with a layer of snow 40 cm high.
When the plant is grown on a balcony, in a box or pot, the situation becomes a little more complicated. It is advisable to put such grapes indoors for the winter, and if this option is not available, and severe frosts are predicted, then the containers should be well wrapped in insulating material. Small pots can be buried in the ground to a depth where the soil does not freeze completely. All these procedures must be done with the arrival of the first frost.
Vines growing along the walls of a gazebo or terrace will provide excellent protection from the sun and create additional coziness.
Conclusion
Maiden grapes in winter and at other times of the year, unlike fruit-bearing varieties of the crop, do not bring gardeners any trouble. Thanks to the knowledge of growing this plant, you can get excellent results and become the owner of interestingly decorated living walls at home. Wild grapes transform any buildings with their appearance and give them a special zest.
